Across South Carolina

Panel OKs measure to restrict sex offenders

COLUMBIA --- A House panel has approved legislation that limits where sex offenders convicted of crimes involving children can live.

The proposal approved Wednesday would prevent those sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, day care, recreation facility or playground. It now heads to the House Judiciary Committee.

Rep. Joan Brady says it's about keeping children safe. The Columbia Republican says she doesn't want South Carolina to become a welcome mat for sex offenders from Georgia, which has a similar law.

Her bill would exempt sex offenders who bought their home before the law passes.

Secrecy is endorsed for weapons permits

COLUMBIA --- A Senate panel has agreed the public shouldn't be able to see who has a concealed weapons permit.

The legislation the panel approved Wednesday would keep the State Law Enforcement Division from providing the information to the public under Freedom of Information Act requests.

Rep. Mike Pitts told the panel the records needed to be kept secret after a Virginia newspaper obtained and published that state's list of permit holders.

The House bill now moves to the full Senate Judiciary Committee.

Dog-chaining limits advance in Senate

COLUMBIA --- Dog owners would not be able to chain their pets or tie them up longer than 12 hours a day under legislation approved by a Senate panel.

The legislation would allow dogs to be kept on a line between two trees or poles for as much as 16 hours.

Sen. John Hawkins, who leads the panel, told supporters of a tougher law that it needs to be simple in order to have a chance of passing.

The panel dropped language setting minimum lengths for chains or other tethers. Mr. Hawkins says those lengths and other animal cruelty problems are covered by existing law that needs to be enforced more frequently.

The legislation now heads to the full Senate Judiciary Committee.

Legislators elect new justice to high court

COLUMBIA --- Legislators have elected Court of Appeals Judge John Kittredge to South Carolina's Supreme Court.

Judge Kittredge was the only candidate in Wednesday's election. The 51-year-old Greenville native will succeed retiring Justice James Moore, who is set to step down this summer.

Appellate Court Chief Judge Kaye Hearn, of Conway, and Circuit Court Judge John Few, of Greenville, had withdrawn from the race.

Legislators also elected Family Court Judge Aphrodite Konduros of Greenville to fill a Court of Appeals seat left vacant when Judge Don Beatty was elected to the Supreme Court last year.

Legislators also filled 13 other judicial seats. Only one was contested.

South Carolina is the only state where legislators alone select judges.

Aiken senator wants to ban school bus ads

COLUMBIA --- An Aiken County senator wants to ban advertising on school buses after hearing reports that some districts were considering the idea.

Sen. Greg Ryberg says he's appalled by the thought of images of greasy hamburgers or video games surrounding pupils.

More than 20 other senators from both parties support the bill. State public school officials have said they hope such ads could raise as much as $3 million in their first year.

-- Edited from wire reports